So now that the cat’s out of the bag, what do you need to know about why becoming a QA Manager is such a great opportunity?

6 Reasons to Become a QA Manager

1) Its role is growing ever more important

Software is everywhere, and with the rise of the Internet of Things, it will only continue to permeate every aspect of our lives. So what happens when something goes wrong with the software on which we now depend? It might sound dramatic, but if you can’t access or use something as intended, it can seem to throw off your whole day.

And in some cases (consider the healthcare market), the types of data stored in applications, as well as the critical nature of the applications themselves (e.g. electronic health records), mean that life or death really can hinge on software working properly.

As DevOps takes hold, more and more companies are moving to a continuous testing model. This means that testing no longer happens all at once in an isolated step at the end of the delivery process, but instead occurs in smaller pieces throughout the entire delivery process.

Given the rapid pace of change in technology and its growing importance in our everyday lives, it seems that everyone wants to have the latest and greatest technology. But what exactly is the latest and greatest technology?

Quality assurance also provides flexibility in that it’s not necessarily something that needs to be done in a particular place. That means that, depending on the company, QA Managers may have flexibility to work remotely, whether it’s to forgo the hassle of commuting, move to a new city, travel or anything else, all while doing their same jobs.

5) It’s in a high growth field

Again, technology has become increasingly critical to our everyday lives, and this importance will only continue to grow. For software testers, this environment creates several growth opportunities and a fertile job market (CNN Money cited the 10-year job growth for QA Managers at 15% in its 2015 Best Jobs in America report).

And as software becomes more deeply intertwined into every aspect of our lives, the industries in which QA Manager jobs become available will also increase, further expanding the horizon of opportunities.

Plus, someone who is knowledgeable about modern automation technologies and other DevOps tools is hard to find, so building up that skillset will make for a prosperous career.

6) It regularly tops job happiness lists

Time and again QA Manager and related QA roles have topped lists for job happiness over the past decade (aside from the recent Glassdoor survey, it also made CNN Money’s 2015 Best Jobs list and CareerBliss’ happiest jobs list in 2012 and 2014).

Earning potential (CNN places the median salary in the six figures as of 2015)

Work culture, including level of interaction with colleagues and general freedom and flexibility

Growth opportunities (as stated above, QA specifically and software development more generally, are high growth fields, which creates a plethora of options for QA Managers to advance their careers)

QA Manager is the Job of the Future

There’s no doubt about it: QA Manager is the job of the future. As ensuring software quality becomes increasingly important and more deeply intertwined with the entire software development process, QA Managers will become even more sought after. And from this role’s growing value to organizations to its widespread opportunities, flexibility and consistent happiness, it’s definitely a career path that warrants a second look.

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4 comments on 6 Reasons Why Quality Assurance Manager is the Job of the Future

Glad to see this was about software. I’m a quality engineer of twenty years, but I’m quality manager for a manufacturing plant. I hate my job. If I wasn’t caring for a disabled wife, at 50 years now old I’d quit and be a bartender. Or perhaps a caddy. Quality is the most frustrating, bureaucracy-choked, hypocrite suffering field you could possibly enter. Stay away, if you like your sanity.

QA in the investment banking world is highly lucrative and although not always appreciated, it is becoming a necessity with all the regulation and complexity of the trading lifecycle and very intricate IT dev over many tech platforms. It has paid for several of my houses and Porsche’s!!